GOOGLE ACCUSED OF HELPING TELEGRAM CHAT SERVICE EVADE RUSSIAN BAN

Google and Gmail services have been blocked in Russia after Watchdog accused the American search giant of assisting people to use the banned chat service, Telegram.

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging and voice over IP service developed by Telegram Messenger, a privately held company registered in London, United Kingdom, founded by a Russian Entrepreneur.

Banned sites

Russia has blocked Google IP addresses in Kazan, Moscow, Krasnoyarsk at St. Petersburg, after they were added to a list of banned sites on the Russian federal executive body website responsible for censorship in media and telecommunications, Roskomnadozor.

Watchdog said on its official page: “Google hasn’t complied with Roskomnadzor requests and, despite a court ruling, keeps allowing Telegram Messenger to use its IP addresses to operate in Russia.

“Therefore, Roskomnadzor included some Google IP addresses into a register of banned internet resources.”

Chat services

Despite the ban, Telegram users were still able to access the service by using VPNs and from various IP addresses on sites such as Google.

A Google spokesperson told TechCrunch: “We are aware of reports that some users in Russia are unable to access some Google products, and are investigating those reports.”

The decision to block Telegram has also forced Kremlin officials, who are part of the Russian Federal Protective Service, to switch to Mail.ru’s ICQ chat service.

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